The thing about making a garden is you never really know what will happen there. Not really really. You do of course ‘set the stage’ for growing to happen – from planting up a few doorstep pots to toiling over ground work and designing and filling borders.
And then when you sow seeds, as I did here for Gigantes butter beans, and Black Knight morning glory – you could well envision how they might be if they were planted out together and set to grow up the front garden obelisk. (Header photo)
But you can’t necessarily predict the actual ‘show’, which of course is what’s wonderful about gardening. In many ways it’s ever an experiment. The pleasure comes when you walk outside and notice something special, the something whose actual disposition you had no control over.
In the back garden I planted out some more Black Knights with purple climbing French beans Violette. But at the moment they seem more keen to keep company with the courgettes. The flowers have an unearthly look about them. I could swear they radiate light from their recesses.
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Then there are the wild and feral plants that invite themselves into the garden. Sometimes they are not too welcome. But sometimes they make one’s heart leap with delight. Here, entwined in our otherwise horrid hedge we have this glorious pink convolvulus (bindweed). The flowers are much bigger than the wild white version of themselves and they out-trumpet their morning glory cousins too.
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And then there are the garden invaders that invite more curiosity than delight. These delicate crimson-grey poppies are presently flowering above the terrace wall and, as far as I can tell, is a single plant with many branching stems. As the flowers fade, the more ashy they become.I’m not sure what to feel about them.
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But I know I love this white marsh mallow, a shrub I bought recently to grow on and fill a gap along the back garden fence. A perfect moment – catching the early morning sun on its face:
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And then there are things that add to a garden that aren’t quite in the garden. Just over the hedge, on the roadside verge, is an ornamental cherry tree with deep burgundy foliage. At sunset, as we eat supper, we have a glimmering light show at our new kitchen window; not at all what we were expecting.
P.S. For followers of the house renovations: the kitchen’s not finished yet. Last lap stuff still to do.
Lens-Artists: What’s In A Garden Ann-Christine at Leya shows us some stunning gardens
Beautiful!! ❤️
Your post and photos made my heart lap with delight and that’s a wonderful feeling. Thanks. The color of the morning glory flowers is incredible. My mother-in-law called plants that just showed up volunteers. 😁
That’s so good to hear, Janet. Plant power! Good for the heart.
True!
I was just thinking of your garden, Tish – and here I am to see it in such glory! You really work magic!
I see you are also renovating – I feel for you …. ours in not quite done either. I naively thought it would be all sorted by end July; it is looking more like end August.
Thanks, Ju-Lyn. My garden does have lovely parts but a bit like the house, there’s much chaos too.
All sympathy with your renovations. Everything always takes longer than you think it will. We’re hoping the end of August might see things sorted too. Good luck!
Cheering us both on!
YES!
That white Marsh Mallow is gorgeous. I want one!!!
It is gorgeous, isn’t it. And supposed not to grow too sprawly. Though actually, with flowers like that, who cares 🙂
Lovely, Tish. Even the unexpected ones are lovely. Happenstance or the work of people past returning to see if you are as welcoming as they might like.
I like that notion, Sarah, the work of gardeners past making their presence felt. I’ve also noticed a mass of foxglove seedlings growing up (cultivated forms not wild, judging by the leaves) and there was absolutely no sign of foxgloves in the garden when we moved in. It will be interesting to see what they turn into next summer.
Some lovely combinations here Tish and I love that morning glory. Love your hippo too, at least I think it’s a hippo, enjoying the sunset tree.
Definitely a hippo, and now you mention the light, it’s reminding me of the sunset cruise we once took on the Zambezi above Victoria Falls. That’s a good thought combination you’ve just invoked 🙂
I have a hippo. Harriet. A nice fat one!
That is a very pleasing thing to know, Jude 🙂
Lovely shades 🌺
Thank you.
A lovely light in your window, Tish. And your way with gardens is magical – those flowers shine from inside! Thank you for unusual wilds and planted ones, and for the light – oh, the light!
So pleased you enjoyed this, A-C.
♥
some of these reminded me of O’Keeffe paintings
Now that is a compliment, Yvette. Thank you.
😃
It does seem to glow from within.Just beautiful.
That glow is quite something. It’s actually hard to take a photo of it.
Tish, this is a beautiful gallery. The marsh mallows and black night morning glories are out of this world!
Many thanks, Egidio. I’ve not grown the Black Knights before and didn’t know quite what to expect. Their colours are magical.
You have a beautiful garden Tish. Even the unwelcomed are pretty. I love the red poppy. I planted (Yes I did!) a gardenia bush in a front flower bed. It was doing great. After two years growth some miniature daffodils popped up right next to them. What a surprise. Now the gardenia bush has filled the bed and I’m wondering the the daffodils will make it through.
How lovely – a gardenia bush. Nothing like that scent. And miniature daffodils too. I’m sure they’ll keep going.
I hope so, especially since I didn’t plant them in the first place and that gardenia bush has gotten so big and dense. We’ll see.
What a glowingly gorgeous garden. You seem to be achieving a good mix of planning and happenstance.
You’ve summed my gardening up v. well – a bit of planning and a lot of happenstance. But over all, rather random at present.
I loved you thoughts about gardening, I can relate to so many of your experiences. My latest invaders were strawberries from my next door neighbours 🙂 I particularly loved when you said it’s an experiment. It really is.
I can’t think of any better feeling that discovering something growing and new in the garden. It makes me run for the camera. Your photos are delightful.
Ah, like minds, Sofia – both of us dashing for our cameras when the garden gives us a treat 🙂
Reading about your garden is a delight
Thank you, Mak. So happy to have you as a virtual visitor there.
One of the great things about a new home is the surprises that come each season with a new garden. Yours has definitely brought you some wonderful ones! I love the view from your window!
Many thanks, Tina. And yes, new home garden surprises. Who knows what will crop up next 🙂
I see what you mean about the Black Knights radiating from within – they’re glorious! I love the drama of the white marsh mallow too, and although not in the garden your hippo made me smile 🙂
So happy the hippo made you smile. She was bought from some roadside wood carvers in Nairobi.
A joy to read and browse your beautiful photos Tish. I remember the feeling so well of finding the unexpected and watching favourites come by every year. That view from your new kitchen window is magical.
Ah. Thoughts of your garden, Pauline. There was so much to discover there. But now you garden in the sky with whole new vistas.
And give all my love to a few potted herbs
Beautiful colors!!! 👏
Thanks, John.
Beautiful ❤️
Gorgeous! I love when nature has a mind of its own.
Me too, Jennie 🙂
My goodness, those Black Knight morning glories are stunning! Are the pink convolvulus related to them? They have quite a bit of similarity!
Yep. You’ve spotted the likeness, Ju-Lyn. They are related but the pink one is indigenous, and the Black Knight an exotic in the UK.
I’m always “admiratif” of all of you gardeners. The unexpected miracles you witness all of a sudden. Compliments. (I wouldn’t have the talent or the patience…)
Kitchen not ready yet? Hmmm. Where and how do you cook your chakula? 😉 (funny how that word popped into my mind half a century later… Memory is an amazing thing.)
I hope all your renovations will be done before Autumn.
Kwaheri sassa Memsahib mkubwa.
🙏🏻
Many thanks for gardening compliments, Brieuc. Kitchen is chakula cooking-ready, just not washing-up-ready. We’re still using the old kitchen, now a utility room, for that. It’s all a bit challenging. Also waiting for lots of finishing off bits and pieces on the building front.
Part of house breaking I guess. Good thing is you still have September to get the most done? I suspect October becomes a tad chilly?
Good to have a positive take on things. So yes, we’ve still time to sort ourselves out. And often October can be very pleasant too. So fingers crossed.
Tous mes voeux de beau temps.
Merci beaucoup!
Beautiful and the flower does seem to radiate light.